Wenger: Why I will be renewing Gallas' contract

Despite the mysterious injury that continues to malign defender William Gallas, manager Arsène Wenger has reassured Arsenal fans that he will be doing his best to renew the Frenchman's contract at the club.

The boss is prepared to relax his over-30's policy by offering Gallas, who is 32-years-old, a two year extension to his current deal which expires in the summer.

But certain quarters of the media are speculating that Gallas' contract will not be renewed due to the injury that has kept him out for a month now, and that he has possibly played his last game for the club.

Wenger has denied this, saying: "It is a muscle problem. If it was a joint problem, his knees ageing, then I would say 'hmmmm'. But it is a minor muscle problem and we are confident.

"He is seeing a specialist. He is in a rehabilitation centre in the south of France. He went one week ago. He comes back on Wednesday.

"I have spoken to the doctor he spoke to and the progress is not as quick as I expected it to be. We need to be a little patient.

"He had two recurrences of the calf so we have to be more patient than before.

"We have met [his agent this week], and we will meet again. Nothing has been decided."

Gallas has played an important role within the squad this season, forming a strong partnership with new signing Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of defence.

His presence in the team was sorely missed last season when he spent a considerable amount of time on the sidelines, and we didn't finish the season as strongly as we would have liked.

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